title: Serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of rifampicin at two dose levels in children with tuberculous meningitis.
abstract: Twenty patients of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in age group of 6 months to 10 years included in the study were divided into two groups of 10 patients each. Rifampicin was administered in dosage of 10 mg and 7.5 mg/kg bw to each patient of groups I and II respectively. Drug concentrations in serum and CSF of these patients were measured by a microbiological tube dilution method using a strain of Sarcina lutea. In group I mean serum and CSF concentration was 3.84 micrograms/ml and 0.178 microgram/ml respectively, while in group II it was 2.16 micrograms/ml and 0.206 microgram/ml respectively. These concentrations were many times higher than the MIC against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mean percentage penetration of rifampicin in CSF was 5 and 10% in group I and II respectively. We recommend similar studies in large number of children before advocating the therapy with low dose of rifampicin in TBM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Pharmacology U.C.M.S. & G.T.B. Hospital, Delhi.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rohatgi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Talwar
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Patni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012293:Rifampin / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D012293:Rifampin